Tomato booster

ABSTRACT

An open tomato booster on each end with a vertical closable side entrance to allow a tomato transplant space for growth of an additional root system in a vertical position with a method of application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Background—Prior Art

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

U.S. Patent

Pat. No. Kind Code Issue Date Patentee 6,874,278 P2 Apr. 5, 2005 Wilson Felknor Jim Ferron

SUMMARY

The embodiments reside in a tomato booster for growing a tomato transplant having a root system and stem which extends from the root system. There is also a one step of planting required to fulfill the object of the embodiments.

The first step is to allow the plant to grow twelve to fourteen inches above the ground or potting mix. Then turning the tomato booster with its soil contact end down and setting upright on the ground adjacent to the plant, measure to trim all leaves even with the stem from the top to the bottom of the tomato booster. The open booster can then be placed around the stem of the plant and pressed closed engaging its soil contact end into the ground. Fill with potting mix water and liquid fertilize to complete the process.

The tomato booster when in place acts as a booster to the fine white fuss like roots developing on the stem of the plant. The booster can also be used on tomato plants growing in the garden as well as potting mix containers to increase their yield. Further the booster permits the user to water and fertilize the plant by pouring a mixture of liquid fertilizer on a periodic basis and watering once a day from the top of the booster. The booster should be filled with a good grade of potting mix up to one inch from the top. Thus the water which is needed by the plant being grown goes directly to the plant roots with no dramatic loss due to runoff. The tomato plant will also need some sort of support with its tremendous growth.

BACKGROUND

The tomato booster relates generally to gardening accessories and more particular to planters within which plants are transplanted for growth and also tomato plants growing in the garden. The type of tomato booster concerned includes those which are adapted to contain dirt or potting mix and a plant which is transplanted with the potting mix. The tomato booster can also be used on other tomato plants growing in the garden which are at least twelve to fourteen inches long.

Accordingly it is an object of the present tomato booster to provide a new and improved method of providing space for boosting the root system of the tomato plant whether grown in a pot or in the garden. This being done by applying a one step method. This is accomplished by allowing the plant to grow twelve to fourteen inches above the ground or potting mix. Then turning the tomato booster with its soil contact end down and setting upright on the ground adjacent to the plant, measure to trim all leaves even with the stem to the top of the booster. The open cylinder or tomato booster can then be placed around the stem of the plant and pressed closed and pushing its soil contact end into the ground.

One more object of the present tomato booster is to provide the plant being grown to be fed and watered with relative ease. By using the tomato booster all water and fertilizer applied goes directly to the root section. Yet another object of the present booster provides one which is readily small in size to facilitate shipping, packing and storing. A further object of the tomato booster is to provide such a booster which is uncomplicated in construction yet effective in operation.

Years ago even today, it was common knowledge the best way to grow a tomato transplant was to trim off all leaves off the stem, leaving only the top portion. Then dig a trench and lay the transplant horizontally with the top end turned up. After this is complete, cover with dirt, water and fertilize. This method allows the root system on the stem to expand to make a strong health plant. Using the tomato booster the same results are accomplished when the one step method is completed, only in a vertical position instead of a horizontal one producing the same results.

ADVANTAGES

Accordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: To provide a tomato booster that will produce more tomatoes whether it is in a planter or in the garden. To provide a tomato booster that will help the plant develop a stronger root system producing more tomatoes. Another advantage of the tomato booster is to grow a root system in a vertical position. Still another advantage is to provide a booster that will fit into any eight inch by eight inch size planter as well as around any in garden tomato plants, thus providing a funnel type fertilizing and watering system directed to the root system. Unlike the upside down planter, the tomato booster tomato plant will grow faster since it has a secondary root system thus allowing a stronger tomato plant to quickly yield more tomatoes.

The tomato booster is both efficient in cost and also shipping. It can be shipped in a plastic bag. It also because of size has a low capacity for potting mix making it cheaper to grow a tomato plant. It can also be used in any discarded planters and is reusable. The upside down planter is much larger and cost more to manufacture and ship. It also contains more potting mix which in turn requires more water and much more fertilizer. Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 sheet 1 is a front view of tomato booster with its entrance closed.

FIG. 1 sheet 2 is a rear view of the tomato booster.

Sheet 3 detail 1 is a view of the inside overlap.

Sheet 3 detail 2 is a view of the cutaways.

Sheet 3 detail 3 and 4 is a view of the male and female locks.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

2 Cylinder 4 Soil contact end 6 Male Offset 8 Female Offset 10 Male Lock 12 Female Lock 14 Overlap 16 Circular Stop 18 Entrance 20 Engager 22 Cutaways 24 Slits

Detail Description of FIG. 1.

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail. There is shown embodiments generally indicated of the tomato booster in FIG. 1. The cylinder 2 with its, open entrance 18 has two offsets one being the male offset 6 and the other female offset 8 these offsets 6 and 8 are on a ninety degree angle perpendicular to the cylinder 2's body. On the male offset 6 are four equally spaced male locks 10. On the female offset 8 are four preformed round holes for female locks 12 with four splits at ninety degree angles intersecting the performed female locks 12 compatible to the male locks 10. The overlap 14 begins one inch from the top of the tomato booster and ends at circular stop 16. On the inner side of the tomato booster an overlap 14 is formed to continue horizontally beyond male offset 6 to form a barrier over the closed entrance 18. On the cylinders bottom is soil contact end 4 for ease in determining the depth when it is placed into the soil with circular stop 16 in place. On the top side of cylinder 2 is engager 20 which is used to push the cylinder into the ground or potting mix. It is on the outside of cylinder 2 with its bottom inside reinforced to cylinder 2 and also acts as a mate for stacking with circular stop 16. Soil contact end 4 has a one eighth inch offset to the inside of the tomato booster to allow its one inch end to enter the topside of the booster for stacking. When closing the tomato booster place a finger on each side of the offsets 6 and 8 with the locks 10 and 12 aligned and pressed together.

As will be apparent that the tomato booster provides a cavity that can contain dirt or potting mix after being placed around a tomato plant in a planter or in the garden pushing its soil contact end 4 into the ground until the bottom of the cylinder's circular stop 16 limits it depth to one inch in the ground.

When the tomato plant has grown to twelve or fourteen inches tall a one step method should occur as follows: Turn the tomato booster contact end downward and setting upright on the ground adjacent to the plant, measure to trim all leaves even with the stem to the top of the tomato booster. The open booster can then be placed around the stem of the plant pressed closed and engaging its soil contact into the ground. When this is complete fill it with potting mix to one inch from the top and water and feed with liquid fertilizer. The plant should be watered daily and administered with liquid fertilizer when applicable.

A novel feature of the tomato booster is that it can be stacked for an additional space for root formation. This is accomplished when the tomato plant has grown to three to four feet tall. Since the booster can be engaged into the top of another booster the same one step method is applied. First cut all leaves even with the stem to the height of the booster. Place the booster around the plant and close the booster. Push the booster into the top of the other booster and fill with a good grade of potting mix to within one inch of the top and turning it as to cover slit 24 above offset 6 and 8. Next water thoroughly and feed with liquid fertilizer.

Exemplary dimensions of the tomato booster are as follows: The cylinder 2 is round and is one sixteenth inch thick with its inside diameter being six inches and its height being eight inches tall. Its offsets 6 and 8 are one inch wide and are one sixteenth inch thick. The male and female locks 10 and 12 are in the center of male and female offsets 6 and 8 and are equally spaced to conform within each other. The four male locks 10 are smooth end studs and are one half inch long and one quarter inch in diameter. The ends are tapered to one sixteenth of an inch half way from the end of the studs to allow easy entry into the four preformed round female locks 12. The four female locks 12 are one eight inch round with four one sixteenth inch splits three thirty second inches long at ninety degree angles intersecting the female lock 12. On cylinder 2's bottom side is circular stop 16 which is a one hundred eighty degree half circular end made to conform with engager 20. On cylinder 2's top is engager 20 which is one half inch in diameter and round in appearance with its bottom inside reinforced to cylinder 2 and mounted directly on the top side of the cylinder ending at split 24 to engage the cylinder into the ground. Engager 20 has a one sixteenth slit 24 from the top of the engager to the top of the offsets 6 and 8 in the center of entrance 18 and also one on the opposite side with cutaways 22 for ease in opening the booster.

On the inner part of the tomato booster is an overlap 14 which is a continuation of the cylinders 2's inner side surpassing male offset 6. The overlap is one inch beyond the entrance 18 when the cylinder is closed. The male and female offsets 6 and 8 begin one inch under engager 20 and ends one inch short of cylinder 2's side leaving room for one inch into the soil when circular stop 16 is engaged. The circular stop 16 is made to conform with the outside diameter of the engager 20 covering its top side with its inner side reinforced to the side of cylinder 2. The cylinder 2 soil contact end 4 has a one sixteenth inch split at entrance 18 and another one a hundred eighty degrees on the opposite side up through circular stop 16. The soil contact end 4 offsets to the inside one eighth of an inch to allow it to enter cylinders 2's top side for stacking and is one inch long from the top of engager 16. The overlap 14 begins above the top of circular stop 16 and is mounted one half inch on the inside entrance 18 on the inside wall of cylinder 2's inside and to the left of male offset 6 extending one inch past the entrance 18 horizontally and terminates vertically one inch from the top of engager 20. The cutaway 22 extends from the wall of the booster and beginning at slit 24 and extending on an angle to one half inch all around the engager 20 and the circular stop 16 on each side of slit 24, each cutaway extending outward from slit 24.

The tomato booster and its embodiments are made of plastic but different materials can also be used. Although the descriptions above contain many specification, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments for example the locks can be made in many different shapes and forms. And the cylinder can be made into other shapes such as square, oblong, oval, two piece or more, expandable and etc. The closure can be formed in many different types and forms of pressure locks even to the use of snaps and Velcro and hook type. And also the use of bags. The reason for the entrance to be fully open is to allow any secondary stems on the plant to be easily accepted especially when the plant has exceeded three to more feet tall. The entrance can be made with any type of entrance whether it be a lock one or not, but this will not fulfill the object of the booster which has means to accommodate stacking for a secondary root system. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence rather than by the examples given. 

I claim:
 1. An open tomato booster on each end with a side lockable vertical entrance to allow a tomato plant space for growth of an additional root system in a vertical position with a one step method.
 2. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein its vertical entrance has two offsets one on each side.
 3. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein said offsets one male and one female have male and female locks
 4. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein said male locks are tapered plain end studs.
 5. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein its offset female locks are preformed round holes with four splits at ninety degree angles intersecting them at four points.
 6. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein a closure is confirmed when the offsets of the cylinder are pressed together to engage the locks.
 7. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein its inside wall extends past the male offset to form an overlap.
 8. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein a circular stop will determine the depth and also allows stacking.
 9. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein a circular round top is formed at its upper top side.
 10. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein slits are formed in the center of the entrance on both top and bottom and also 180 degrees on the opposite ends.
 11. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein slits top and bottom opposite the entrance have angular cutaways.
 12. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein stacking will occur when one tomato booster is placed on top of another tomato booster.
 13. The tomato booster as defined in claim 1 wherein a secondary root system is formed from stacking.
 14. A method for applying the procedure of planting a tomato transplant into a tomato booster comprising: a. providing a tomato transplant to grow in a planter or in the garden, b. trimming all leaves even with the stem when the transplant is twelve to fourteen inches tall in the planter or in the garden, c. placing the open tomato booster around the transplant closing it around the stem while engaging it into the soil, d. filling the booster with potting mix to within one inch from the top to avoid runoff, e. watering daily and fertilizing when applicable, Whereby said tomato booster will need to have supporting means for its plant with its intensive growth. 